Category Archives: Fathers

Why Paying for My Daughter’s College Is My Ultimate Life Goal This desire to give your children as much as possible is something Dr. Fran Walfish, a child and family psychologist and author of “The Self-Aware Parent: Resolving Conflict and…

Separation Anxiety in a child is almost never exclusive. Parents have an emotional reaction and it’s usually strong. Most parents react with a flood of their own anxiety. I define anxiety as fear. The child fears being alone separate from…

Q. Dear Dr. Fran, my wife and I have five children–ages 5 to 13 years-old. Our oldest boy is extremely aggressive and seems to be taking his anger out on his 5-year-old brother. My wife thinks it’s no big deal…

A CHILD psychotherapist and author fears the fourth anniversary of Michael Jackson’s death later this month may have prompted his teenage daughter’s apparent attempt to take her own life. Paris Jackson, 15, was hospitalised following a medical emergency at her…

Here are my top eight most difficult milestones every parent must face. Each one is critical. You will likely transition through each one by holding your spouse/partner’s hand and using trial and error. If you bump up against a wall…

What is the typical timeline for private school admissions? For example, outline a sample timetable of applications, interviews, decisions, etc. Dr. Fran: There are 1,533 private schools in the Los Angeles County. In California, applications for private schools are in…

My daughter remembered that she forgot to do her homework while brushing her teeth for bed. I said not to worry and that she could do it then. She starting crying and saying that she does everything wrong (her automatic…

1. How do you deal with separation anxiety? Dr. Fran: Separation anxiety comes from two root causes. One, either the parent (usually Mom) is over attached and does not nurture the separation process. Or two, mom or dad is “there”…

1. What do you do if you find that you sometimes don’t like your child? FW: Find some areas where you can empathize and identify with your child. Every child wants to feel understood. Sometimes parents see things in their…

A healthy relationship based on mutual trust is every parent's wish. The bond between infant and parent is a natural phenomenon, but as children reach their preteens and form their own personalities, fireworks between the child and parent can ensue. Drawing on 20 years of clinical experience and new theories on attachment, family therapist and consultant to Parents magazine, Dr. Fran Walfish argues that parents need to distinguish their own personality types in order to make more informed decisions about how they interact and raise their own children.